Sugar dispenser



Jan. 23, 1962 T. R. WYNN SUGAR DISPENSER Filed May 11, 1959 INVENTOR. Te d R. mg n. n. BY

fittorneys United States PatentOfiice Sfilhflfi Patented time. 23, 1962 3,018,025 SUGAR DLSPENSER Ted R. Wynn, Rte. 1, Helena, Ala. Filed May 11, 1959, Ser. No. 812,301) 2 Ciairns. (Ci. ZZZ-$) This invention relates to a sugar dispenser and is an improvement on the sugar dispenser described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 661,080, filed May 23, 1957, and relating to Sugar Dispenser now Patent No. 2,903,164.

An object of my invention is to provide a sugar dispenser which shall have a closure member that is adapted to automatically move to open position upon tilting the dispenser to the pouring position and automatically closes the dispensing opening upon returning the dispenser to its upright, non-dispensing position.

Another object of my invention s to provide a sugar dispenser which shall include improved weight means for moving the closure member selectively from opened and closed positions and which shall be self cleaning in that the closure member is adapted to crush any lumps of sugar which accumulate near the discharge opening.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sugar dispenser of the character designated in which the discharge opening is positioned at the side of the dispenser instead of being positioned on the top thereof, thus providing a dust-tight closure for the dispenser and preventing dust from settling in the opening.

A further object of my invention is to provide a sugar dispenser of the character designated in which the closure member for the dispenser is positioned wholly within the confines of the dispenser whereby it is out of the reach of children.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a sugar dispenser of the character designated which shall be simple of construction, economical of manufacture, neat in appearance, and easily maintained in a clean condition at all times.

Briefly, my improved dispenser comprises a cover member for the dispenser having a discharge opening in one side thereof. A generally horizontal guideway for a closure member is carried by the cover member in alignment with the opening whereby the closure member is adapted for longitudinal movement of the guideway. A weight actuating member is operatively connected to the closure member and is adapted to hold the closure member in engagement with the discharge opening when the container is in an upright, non-dispensing position. Upon tilting the sugar dispenser to pouring position, the weighted actuating member withdraws the closure member from the opening whereby the sugar is free to flow out the dis charge opening.

A sugar dispenser embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view showing the cover member removed from the container and showing the closure member in dispensing position; and,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the horizontal guideway and support for the weighted actuating member is formed.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, 1 show a container having external threads 11 at the upper end thereof for receiving the internal threads 12 of a cover member 13. A dispensing opening 14 is provided adjacent the forward side of the cover member 13 in position to receive a suitable closure mem- And ber 16 which is preferably spherical in shape. The forward side of the cover member 13 is relatively steep whereby foreign particles, such as dust and the like, do not settle in the dispensing opening 14. Preferably, the upper portion of the cover member 13 is provided with a relatively flat portion 17 whereby advertising material or the like might be placed thereon.

Mounted on or secured to the under surface of the cover member 13 is an elongated guideway bracket 18 which may be formed of a suitable blank, as shown in FIG. 4. The blank is bent along scored lines 19 to provide depending leg members 21 and 22. The forward portion of the blank is cut away as at 23 to provide forward corner openings 24 at the forward ends of the depending leg members 21 and 22, as shown in FIG. 1.

The depending leg members 21 and 22 of the bracket 18 are scored along lines 26 and 27, as shown in FIG. 4, whereby the lower edges of the depending leg members may be bent inwardly to provide inturned flanges 28 and 29 which are in position to support the closure member 16 as it moves longitudinally of the bracket 18. Preferably, the distance between the adjacent edges of the inturned flanges 28 and 29 is approximately one-fourth of an inch and the opening 24 is approximately one-fourth of an inch in width whereby large lumps of sugar do not enter the space immediately adjacent the discharge opening 14.

The closure member 16 is attached to the forward end of an elongated actuating member 31 which extends longitudinally within the confines of the elongated guideway bracket 13. The rear end of the elongated actuating member is provided with a loop portion 32 which engages a second loop member 33 which is formed integrally with downwardly and forwardly extending arms 34 and 36. The arms 34 and 36 may be held in assembled relationship by a transverse bracket 35 which surrounds the arms, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Also, the arms 34 and 36 are secured to a transverse member 37 which in turn extends through suitable openings 38 provided in the depending leg members 21 and 22 of the bracket 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The downwardly and forwardly extending arms 34 and 36 are thus mounted for pivotal movement relative to the openings 38 with the transverse member 37 as the pivot point.

Secured to the lower ends of the depending arms 34 and 36 are weight members 39 and 41, respectively, which urge the closure member 16 into engagement with the opening 14 when the dispenser is in upright, non-dispensing position. On the other hand, when the dispenser is tilted toward dispensing position, the weights 39 and 41 move forwardly in a general direction toward the opening 14 whereby the closure member 16 is withdrawn from the opening 14, as shown in FIG. 3 to thereby permit free discharge of the sugar through the opening 14 while the dispenser is thus tilted. By providing the inturned flanges 28 and 29, a recessed portion 42 is provided for receiving the arms 34 and 36 whereby a minimum of space is required for the weight assembly. That is, a maximum distance of travel of the arms and weights is provided.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved sugar dispenser will be readily understood. While the dispenser is in an upright, non-dispensing position, as shown in FIG. 1, the weights 39 and 41 urge the arms 34 and 36 in a counterclockwise direction due to the fact that the arms 34 and 36 extend forwardly and downwardly. The upper end of the arms 34 and 36 thus urge the elongated actuating member 31 and the closure member 16 into firm engagement with the dispensing opening 14. In this position, the opening 14 is closed to protect the contents of the container 10 from coming in contact with moisture, foreign materials and the like.

When the container is tilted toward dispensing position, the weights 39 and 41 cause the arms 34 and 36 to move in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, relative to the opening 38 in the depending leg members 21 and 22, whereby the actuating member 31 and the closure member 16 are moved away from the discharge opening 14, as shown in FIG. 3. With the closure member 16 withdrawn from the opening 14, the sugar is free to flow outwardly through the opening 14. The elongated space between the inturned flanges 28 and 29 and the forward corner openings 24 at the forward ends of the depending legs 21 and 22 provide ample room for the sugar to pass to the discharge opening 14. In view of the fact that the openings 24 and the space between the inturned flanges 28 and 29 are sufliciently small to prevent the passage of large lumps of sugar, only relatively small lumps of sugar ever reach the vicinity of the discharge opening 14. Also, since the closure member 16 moves longitudinally of the elongated guideway housing 18, any lumps which might reach the area within the guideway bracket 18 are crushed by the longitudinal movement of the closure member 16.

Preferably, relatively sharp edges are provided adjacent the lower portion of the depending leg member 21 and 22, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 whereby any lumps of sugar which come in contact therewith are broken up.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved sugar dispenser which assures a constant discharge of the sugar from the dispenser while in dispensing position and which is effective to break up lumps of sugar which form within the dispenser. It will also be seen that my improved sugar dispenser is extremely simple of construction and manufacture and is particularly adapted for mass production.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A sugar dispenser comprising a container, a removable cover member for introducing sugar into said container, there being a dispensingopening through said cover member adjacent one side thereof, a generally horizontal guideway carried by the inner surface of said cover member in alignment with said opening and pro jecting inwardly of said cover member, a closure member adapted for movement longitudinally of said guideway and disposed to engage said opening inwardly of the cover member, an elongated actuating member attached at one end to said closure member and adapted for movement longitudinally of said guideway, a depending arm pivotally connected at its upper end to the other end of said elongated actuating member, means pivotally supporting s aid arm intermediate its ends, and a weight member carried by the lower end of said arm, whereby the elongated actuating member and the closure member are urged in a direction for the closure member to engage said opening while the container is in a non-dispensing vertical position and the closure member is withdrawn from said opening upon tilting the container to dispensing position from the vertical position.

2. A sugar dispenser comprising a container, a removable cover member for introducing sugar into said container, there being a dispensing opening through said cover member adjacent one side thereof, a generally horizontal guideway carried by the inner surface of said cover member in alignment with said opening and projecting inwardly of said cover member, a closure member adapted for movement longitudinally of said guideway and disposed to engage said opening inwardly of the cover member, an elongated actuating member attached at one end to said closure member and adapted for longitudinal movement of said guideway, a depending arm pivotally connected at its upper end to the other end of said elongated actuating member, weight means carried by the lower end of said arm, means carried by said cover member pivotally supporting said arm intermediate its ends, the lower end of said depending arm extending downwardly and forwardly, whereby upon tilting the dispenser to dispensing position the weight means moves toward said dispensing opening to move the closure member away from said dispensing opening and upon moving the dispenser toward non-dispensing vertical position the weight means move away from said dispensing opening to thereby force the closure member into engagement with said dispensing opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 420,320 Wagner Jan. 28, 1890 975,958 Johnson Nov. 15, 1910 1,020,413 Gruver Mar. 19, 1912 1,962,562 Hemman June 12, 1934 2,101,020 Coleman Dec. 7, 1937 

